COOKING isn't in the vows but it should be

On June 5, 2010 I pledged to be my NWH’s faithful wife, to love and serve him, in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy…ect. ect. ect. (ooo, maybe I’ll do my Wedding Word Wednesday on our vows?). 

So along with this little promise thingy, I think I should have said... I promise to cook for you, with chicken as with beef, for breakfast as with dinner, in the oven as on the grill (hahahaha, I crack myself up sometimes)!!

I’ve been doing really well if I do say so myself, but I still have to have a recipe.  I’m too scared to just go out on a limb and try to create my own concoction.  That way if it turns out bad I can always say, “I followed the directions exactly, honey.  It must just be a bad recipe!”

So tonight we’re having mini-burgers and Lipton’s potatoes.  Now I know, I know, hamburgers are easy.  I could just salt and pepper them stick them on the grill and be done, but NWH said he wanted me to add Worcestershire sauce.  Why did he make this request?… no one knows! But he did, and if he wants Worcestershire in his burger, he’ll get Worcestershire in his burger!

So I’ve been looking up hamburger recipes that include this ingredient and have narrowed the choices down to three.

JUICY GRILLED HAMBURGERS

1 lb. lean ground beef
3 tbsp. chopped onions
3 tbsp. catsup
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Dash of Tabasco sauce

Mix all ingredients together well and place covered mixture in the refrigerator for several hour to marinate, before grilling. Form hamburger patties in a dish with vertical sides to eliminate a thin dried edge when cooked.

NOTE:  NWH and I are kind of picky eaters.  We don’t like onions so I guess I could leave that out.  I also like that the meat gets marinated before grilling.  This may be the winner.

GRILLED HAMBURGERS

1 lb. hamburger
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
8 crushed Ritz crackers
1 tbsp. A-1 Steak Sauce
1 egg

Mix together. Make burgers into desired size and grill. Baste while grilling with burgundy and butter, if desired.

NOTE:  I read a lot of recipes that use eggs and either bread crumbs or crackers.  I’d like to try this, but I’m not sure NWH would like it.  Have any of you made burgers like this?  I would think it would be meatloaf “esc” and NWH and I are not meatloaf lovers.

GRILLED HAMBURGERS WITH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE AND ONIONS

1 pound ground beef, preferably lean chuck

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons dried chopped or minced onion

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

4 hamburger buns, white or whole wheat

Condiments and toppings

Mix all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Divide into four portions and gently form into patties. Make a small indention in the center of each burger so it cooks evenly. Grill over direct heat or pan fry on medium-high heat to desired doneness. Serve with your favorite buns and toppings. My favorites are sliced onion, cheddar cheese, sliced tomato and yellow mustard, as shown in the photo.

NOTE:  This one is the simplest but is the only one that uses garlic powder, and I LOVE to use garlic powder.  I may add the ½ teaspoon to receipt one and call it a dinner. 

What do ya’ll think?  Which one should I go with?  Any good burger recipes that you’d like to share??